WSP09925 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR WASHINGTON DEe 2 1998 Honorable Robert J. Miller Governor of Nevada Carson City, Nevada 89701 Dear Governor Miller: The Bureau of Reclamation, after consultation at a meeting on August 4, 1998, with representatives ofthe Colorado River Basin States, the Upper Colorado River Commission, appropriate Federal agencies, Indian tribes, and other interested parties in Colorado River operations, established the 1999 Annual Operating Plan (AOP) (copy attached) for the Colorado River reservoirs. The plan of operation reflects use of the reservoirs for all purposes consistent with the "Criteria for Coordinated Long-Range Operation of the Colorado River Reservoirs Pursuant to the Colorado River Basin Project Act of September 30, 1968" (Operating Criteria). Pursuant to required Secretarial determinations, storage equalization and the avoidance of spills will control the annual releases from Glen Canyon Dam in accordance with Article 1I(3) of the Operating Criteria unless the minimum objective release criterion in Article 11(2) is controlling. If the equalization criterion is controlling, Glen Canyon Dam will be operated to release sufficient water during water year 1999 to equalize, as nearly as practicable, the active reservoir contents of Lake Powell and Mead on September 30,1999. Taking into account (1) the existing water supply conditions in the basin, (2) the most probable near- tenn water supply conditions in the basin, and (3) that the beneficial consumptive use requirements of Colorado River mainstream users in the Lower Division States are expected to be more than 9,250 MCM (7.5 MAP), the surplus condition is the criterion governing the operation of Lake Mead for calendar year 1999 in accordance with Article ill(3)(b) of the Operating Criteria and Article 1I(2)(B) ofthe decree in Arizona v. California. This determination is warranted based on the current and projected hydrologic conditions in the Colorado River Basin and water needs in the Lower Division States, utilizing an analysis of future reservoir conditions, Lake Powell releases, and flood control releases. A volume of2,097 MCM (1.7 MAP) of water will be allowed to be scheduled for delivery to Mexico during calendar year 1999 in accordance with Article 15 of the 1944 Mexican Treaty and Minute No. 242 of the International Boundary and Water Commission. While there still is no agreed upon long term strategy for the determination of surplus conditions, the making of this determination, based on flood control and spill avoidance considerations, does not preclude the Secretary from adopting other determination criteria in future years.